Based on ratings, I was chosen as the #1 Host in all of NM! I have put so much love into this sweet charming casita located on the Turquoise Trail, a breathtaking National Scenic Byway. Poised on 10 private acres with mountain views, you will be 17 miles from Santa Fe, 2 miles from the charming little village of Los Cerrillos, and 5 miles from the popular artsy mining town of Madrid. You can hike right out the door, and enjoy out-of-this-world star gazing, and amazing sunrises and sunsets. This lovely magical studio casita is about 800 square feet and has everything you will need for a very homey and special experience in New Mexico! You will find inspiring views of the beautiful Ortiz Mountains from the cute little front patio. And, while hiking on the "look-out ridge" located on the beautiful surrounding land, you will also have stunning vista views of not only the mountains, but also colorful desert rock formations reminiscent of Georgia O'Keeffe's famous New Mexico paintings. And, because there is minimal light pollution in this rural area, the star gazing is simply outstanding! You can even see the Milky Way! After over 20 years of living on this land, I am still astounded by the night skies and can't even begin to count the number of falling stars that I see regularly. This colorful casita is thoughtfully appointed and has a fully equipped kitchen with a small apartment size refrigerator/freezer and an apartment size electric stove. Sleep will come easily in the comfy queen size bed, which has a padded back rest for lounging while reading a favorite book or watching a movie from bed. A charming little wood stove creates an extra cozy ambience in the winter. The large bathroom has a tub/shower, closet, all of the bath and body amenities you will need to pamper yourself during your stay. The pretty and comfortable living room is creatively decorated in a Southwest boho style and offers a variety of books, over a dozen New Mexico guide books, a fun Freida Kahlo puzzle and a Roku TV (which is also visible from the bed). There is a cute little dining area with hand painted furniture and French doors that take you out onto the charming patio with seating, a tranquil little water fountain (in spring and summer), mountain views, and a Cuisinart gas grill. The patio is a lovely place to enjoy your morning coffee, a relaxing glass of wine or a locally brewed brew in warm weather. There is a new split heating/cooling unit to keep the temperature in the casita warm and cozy in the winter and refreshingly cool in the summer. Please be aware that cell phone service is spotty in this beautiful rural area. You will need to enable WiFi calling on your cell phone in order to have reliable access to texts and phone calls on your cell phone. The casita has a WiFi based phone line that is available for your use. Please be aware that although it is sometimes possible, it is not guaranteed that the rural area where the casita is located can be serviced by Uber and Lyft. I suggest booking this casita only if you will have a car. Equally as beautiful and unique as the casita itself, is the stunning and historical mountain and desert landscape which surrounds it. There are over 10 acres for exploring unique and colorful rock formations, local flora and fauna, a wealth of geological diversity (including quartz, fossils and petrified wood), and prehistoric Anasazi archeological findings from as early as 600 AD. This richly historied spiritual land is currently eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places under the National Historic Preservation Act because it was once part of ancient Anasazi Native American Pueblo Land. If you have a keen eye, you are likely to spot ancient colorful Native pot shards and chipped stone tools from the past (any archeological findings must be respected and left untouched). This special land is located in a unique area on The Turquoise Trail, often referred to as “The Garden of the Gods” because of the amazing and colorful rock formations. The sunrise and sunset viewing from the land are stunning! You could bliss out and never leave this little slice of New Mexico paradise, but if you want to explore further, Santa Fe is an easy drive 17 miles north. And, only 5 miles south is the bustling little historical mining town and art community of Madrid...filled with cool and colorful little art galleries and shops, as well as The Mineshaft Tavern (featured in the movie "Wild Hogs" and the TV show "Longmire"), it is one of my favorite places for great food, locally brewed beer, delicious margaritas, and tons of local culture and character! Two miles south, is the unique village of Los Cerrillos (featured in the movie, "Young Guns") it has great hiking at The Cerillos Hills State Park, incredible horseback riding at Broken Saddle Riding Company (also in the state park, which has stunning views and a very cool mining history). And, another favorite place to eat is the very unique and special Blackbird Saloon! The Cerrillos Station is a wonderful local gallery and unique gift shop. I believe this lovely gallery/shop is more unique and special than anything that you will find in Santa Fe! Guests have access to the entire Casita and all of the amenities needed for a convenient and comfortable stay. You must have a vehicle to get around this rural area. There is no bus service or public transport and it is often not possible to use Uber or Lyft. I live in the main house on this property. I will completely respect your peace and privacy, but I am nearby if you should need anything. I love the rural area where I live, which is incredibly beautiful with hiking and nature right outside the door, but also allowing for easy access to Santa Fe, Cerrillos, and Madrid. It is important to note that, although it is sometimes possible, it is not guaranteed that you will be able to access transportation from Uber or Lyft in this rural area. I recommend booking the casita only if you have a car. If you like to hike or bike, this is the perfect place for you. Please try to take some time to hike up onto one of the ridges on my property (especially for the sunrise or sunset). The views are absolutely breathtaking and spectacular! In addition to hiking out the door, you can hike at nearby Cerrillos Hills State Park. You can also horseback ride with Broken Saddle Riding Company in this park, which is an incredible experience! If you are a cyclist, there are several incredible road biking routes on the Turquoise Trail (Highway 14), and mountain biking at the Cerrillos State Park, as well as the Dale Ball foothill trails and ski basin trails in Santa Fe. Madrid has become almost as popular as a tourist destination as Santa Fe! It was featured in the movie, "Wild Hogs" (and many others), and is a quaint historical mining town. It has wonderful galleries and shops, as well as the infamous Mineshaft Tavern with great food, drinks, and live music. You will need to have a car because there is no public transportation close by. There is on-site parking, directly next to the casita. Just a reminder that you must have a cell phone/carrier that allows you to access WiFi calling in order to reliably use your cell phone. The casita has a WiFi based phone line for your use. There is a Roku Television that is set-up with a variety of channels, but it is not cable. You can use the TV menu to access your own Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and other streaming accounts. Please be aware that the location of this casita is stellar as it is located DIRECTLY on the incredibly beautiful and convenient Turquoise Trail...but this means that you will hear the traffic during more busy times of the day and be be able to see the traffic from the front patio and various places on the land. The Turquoise Trail/Highway 14 is generally quiet in the evening/night. The casita sits about 50-60 yards off of the road. Also, we live in the main house about 100 yards from the casita. Both are situated so that there is complete privacy and the homes are not visible to each other. We have two dogs on the property and do hike on the land with them. If you are not a "dog person" than this property would not be a good fit for you as you may see them while hiking on the land, and occasionally they may even stop by the casita to say hello. The wood stove is available for use November 1 through March 31. I provide the wood to enjoy one fire. Additional wood can be purchased at most grocery stores in town. I like to remind people that New Mexico is a desert climate, and we are experiencing a draught...therefore, conscious water usage is appreciated. My property is not on city water and the water is resourced from a private well.